GM Service Manual Online
For 1990-2009 cars only

If you have not found a problem yet, but the coolant level isn't in the "MIN./MAX. COLD" range, add a 50/50 mixture of clean water drinkable water and DEX-COOL® engine coolant to the fill neck, but be sure the cooling system, including the fill neck pressure cap, is cool before you do so. See Engine Coolant for more information.

Caution: Turning the Intercooler System pressure cap when the engine and intercooler are hot can allow steam and scalding liquids to blow out and burn you badly. Never turn the Intercooler System pressure cap, even a little, when the engine and intercooler are hot.


Object Number: 810983  Size: B3

Caution: Adding only plain water to the cooling system can be dangerous. Plain water, or some other liquid such as alcohol, can boil before the proper coolant mixture will. The vehicle's coolant warning system is set for the proper coolant mixture. With plain water or the wrong mixture, the engine could get too hot but you would not get the overheat warning. The engine could catch fire and you or others could be burned. Use a 50/50 mixture of clean, drinkable water and DEX-COOL® coolant.

Notice: In cold weather, water can freeze and crack the engine, radiator, heater core and other parts. Use the recommended coolant and the proper coolant mixture.

Caution: You can be burned if you spill coolant on hot engine parts. Coolant contains ethylene glycol and it will burn if the engine parts are hot enough. Do not spill coolant on a hot engine.

To add coolant, perform the following:

  1. You can remove the cooling surge tank cap when the cooling system, including the coolant surge tank cap and upper radiator hose, is no longer hot. Turn the pressure cap slowly about one-quarter of a turn to the left and then stop. Don't press down while turning the pressure cap. If you hear a hiss, wait for that to stop. This will allow any pressure still left to be vented.
  2. Then keep turning the pressure cap slowly, and remove it.
  3. Fill the coolant surge tank with the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture, up to the "MIN./MAX. COLD" range. See Engine Coolant for more information.
  4. With the coolant surge tank pressure cap off, start the engine and let it run until you can feel the upper radiator hose getting hot. Watch out for the engine cooling fan.
  5. By this time, the coolant level inside the coolant surge tank may be lower. If the level is lower, add more of the proper DEX-COOL® coolant mixture to the coolant surge tank until the level reaches "MIN./MAX. COLD" range.

  6. Then replace the pressure cap. Be sure the pressure cap is hand-tight.

If at any time during this procedure, coolant begins to flow out of the filler neck, reinstall the pressure cap.